Today's Opinions

You should get the 2010 U.S. Census questionnaire in the next few days. In previous editorials, we’ve stressed the importance of responding to the census. Census results are important – very important.

They are used to determine each state’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to redraw state and local voting districts.

More than $400 billion in federal funds is distributed annually through state, local and tribal governments to communities each year, based on population data.

I was a senior in high school and wanted to entertain my girlfriend, so I offered to take her to all the rides at the county fair. With a tank of gas in that clunker Volkswagen and $25 in my pocket, I was sure to be the best Friday night date in town.

Through the gate into the fairgrounds we went, past the farm equipment, smelly livestock barns, the hot dog and popcorn stands and the craft building with jams, pies and quilts. We had one thing on our minds – the rides. The towering Ferris wheel marked our destination.

It is nice to know that the city of Lancaster is now judge, jury and executioner. They have taken the word of two people and crucified Lancaster Police Officer Pat Parsons. Being the parent of a young man, who also lost his way as a teenager, I know that everything a young man says isn’t the truth. I found that out the hard way. But to take that young man’s word and his mother’s word over Officer Parsons and not have a fair and honest hearing is ludicrous.

America is at a crossroads. One road leads to a progressive society with more aspects of our lives under government control.

The other road leads to an American society of free individuals under a constitution that severely limits what the federal government can rightfully do.

If we follow the progressive model, it will lead to a European-style welfare state so dependent on government that tax reduction is impossible because more people receive government benefits than those who produce the wealth.

How far have we regressed as a people? Let’s see what we have on the table: We have a known perpetrator, a known thief (even petty theft is stealing), who was in a store (where in the recent past, management had called the police to remove him for loitering.) A police officer asked him to go outside, but he refused. The officer pulled him by his hood (didn’t drag him through hot coals or cause physical injury in any way), then slapped a cigarette out of his mouth (it was illegal for him to be smoking anyway), then touched his lips.

I agree with portions of recent guest columns about issues with Edenmoor. I was a major opponent against all the uncontrolled growth in Indian Land, even making an unsuccessful run for County Council in 2004. I would much rather see Edenmoor grow back up in to an uninhabited wasteland than turn into a home for 3,000-5,000 more Yankees.

But to blame the flooding on Mick Mulvaney is taking it a little too far. I used to dig night crawlers for catfish bait on the swampland at Henry Harris Road and U.S. 521 in the early 1970s while Mr. Mulvaney was in diapers.

Editor’s note: Dr. Kevin J. Nusz with The Eye & Laser Center wrote the following column because of concerns about diabetes and its impact on the vision of so many people in Lancaster County. March 23 was American Diabetes Association Alert Day. The one-day wake-up call was an effort to inform the American public about the seriousness of the disease. The annual Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held April 17 at Carowinds. Several local residents, including Jane Lucas and Emily Stacks, will participate with the Watts Up for Diabetes team.

Wake up, America. Time for change. That was and is President Barack Obama’s creed. Let’s all thank God that Obama has done one thing good for America.

He has finally aroused the citizens of America to wake up and see his real political agenda. That agenda is to governmentally take over America and become her dictator, oops, I mean unconditional leader without question.